Cow-tail holder



0. B. JOHNSON.

COW TAIL HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED mp2s. I921.

Patented May 31, 1921.

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nmntqz 0,,5. fafi/n/son/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO B. JOHNSON, OF FRENCH, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B, M

MCCRACKEN, OF BOISE, IDAHO.

COW-TAIL HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed January 26, 1921. Serial No. 440,109.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO B. JOHNSON, citizen of the United States, residing at French, in the county of Payette and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cow-T ail Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cow-tail holders, and particularly to a device of this character to be used in dairies by milkers to hold the tail of a cow in order to avoid the accumulation of dirt and filth in the milk and to save the milker from annoyance.

An object of my invention is to provlde an appliance to be put around a cows leg and to clamp the tail of a cow 'to preserve immobility of this portion of the cows anatomy during the time of milking.

A further object resides in providing a device of the character set forth which can be cheaply and inexpensively made of metal, fiber, wood, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and which is easily applied and is highly eflicient in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the drawings, specification and claims, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will now be set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the application of my invention for use.

Fig. 2 is a top view showing the form of the device when not in use.

Fig. 3 illustrates the appliance as it would appear when in place.

Fig. 4 is an open end view of the appli ance as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail "iew showing one end of the appliance.

The device of my invention consists of a single member of resilient material such as a thin strip of metal, wood, fiber, or hard rubber.

The body portion 1 is constructed as a leaf spring and is bent or looped to have a substantially U-shaped form, as shown in Fig. 2, the legs 2 and 3 being normally substantially parallel. The extremities of the legs are bent or shaped in curves 4 and 5, with the extreme ends bent or shaped so that there will be no sharp edges.

The curved end 5 is of substantially the same width as the middle portion of the body, whereas the leg 2 is widened out at 6 and is slotted or bifurcated as at 7, the bifurcation in the curved end 4 being of sufficient width to receive the hook end 5.

In use the looped body 1 is fitted around a cows leg and by exerting pressure upon the leg portions 2 and 3 these leg portions are sprung to substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, curved end 5 being carried mto the slot or bifurcation 7. The cows tailis then fitted between and within curved posltlons 4 and 5 and when the pressure upon the legs is removed the resiliency of the body clamps the curved portions upon the tall. In this way the tail of the animal is retained and is securely held substantially n the positon shown in Fig. 1, and the cow is prevented from switching her tail.

While in the foregoing I have shown and described one particular design of the appliance and have suggested only certain materials for use in the construction of the same, it will be appreciated that other materials and designs may be found of greater utility or of lower cost for manufacturing, in view of which I do not wish to be limited to such specific details as herein set forth, but may resort to any practical modifications falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cow-tail holder consisting of a leaf spring member of U-shaped form having outwardly disposed curve formations at the ends thereof.

2. A cow-tail holder consisting of a resilient body member of substantially U- shaped form shaped at its ends to provide outwardly extending curved portions and having one end bifurcated to receive the remaining curved end when the U-shaped body form is sprung.

3. A cow-tail holder consisting of a leaf spring body widened out and bifurcated at one end and bent in its middle portion to be of substantially U-shaped form, the extremities of the body being shaped to provide clamping ends having the bills thereof disposed outwardly.

4. A cow-tail holder consisting of a spring having two legs which are normally separated and held apart by the recoil of the spring, the end portions of said legs being curved in substantially concavo-c'onvex form so as to present opposed convex surfaces when separated and opposed concave surfaces when said legs are crossed, one leg having an elongated opening through its free end and the other leg being of such width at its end to pass into and fit slidably in said opening, said spring being adapted to be placed around the leg of a cow and to clamp the cows tail between the concave surfaceso'f its crossed ends.

5. A cow-tail holder consisting of a leaf spring having two legs normally substan tially parallel and curved at a point near their free ends to form opposed substantially concave-convex portions adapted to present opposed concave surfaces when said ends are crossed; one leg of the spring having an open-ended slot in itsfree end and the free end of the other leg adapted to fit slidably in said slot when the spring is compressed, said spring being adapted to be placed around the leg of a cow with its ends crossed in position to receive the cows tail between said concave surfaces and by its recoil to clamp and hold said tail.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my slgnature.

, ORLANDO B. JOHNSON. 

